Korean J Radiol.  2010 Oct;11(5):547-552. 10.3348/kjr.2010.11.5.547.

Estimation of Radiation Exposure of 128-Slice 4D-Perfusion CT for the Assessment of Tumor Vascularity

• Ketelsen D
• Horger M
• Buchgeister M
• Fenchel M
• Thomas C
• Boehringer N
• Schulze M
• Tsiflikas
• Claussen C
• Heuschmid

• KMID: 1102580
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2010.11.5.547

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
We aimed to estimate the effective dose of 4D-Perfusion-CT protocols of the lung, liver, and pelvis for the assessment of tumor vascularity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
An Alderson-Rando phantom equipped with thermoluminescent dosimeters was used to determine the effective dose values of 4D-Perfusion-CT. Phantom measurements were performed on a 128-slice single-source scanner in adaptive 4D-spiral-mode with bidirectional table movement and a total scan range of 69 mm over a time period of nearly 120 seconds (26 scans). Perfusion measurements were simulated for the lung, liver, and pelvis under the following conditions: lung (80 kV, 60 mAs), liver (80 kV/80 mAs and 80 kV/120 mAs), pelvis (100 kV/80 mAs and 100 kV/120 mAs).
RESULTS
Depending on gender, the evaluated body region and scan protocol, an effective whole-body dose between 2.9-12.2 mSv, was determined. The radiation exposure administered to gender-specific organs like the female breast tissue (lung perfusion) or to the ovaries (pelvic perfusion) led to an increase in the female specific dose by 86% and 100% in perfusion scans of the lung and the pelvis, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Due to a significant radiation dose of 4D-perfusion-CT protocols, the responsible use of this new promising technique is mandatory. Gender- and organ-specific differences should be considered for indication and planning of tumor perfusion scans.

Keyword

Perfusion CT; Tumor vascularity; Radiation exposure; Effective dose; 128-slice CT; Alderson-Rando phantom

MeSH Terms

Female
*Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography
Humans
Male
Neoplasms/*blood supply/*radiography
Phantoms, Imaging
*Radiation Dosage

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Dosimeters and dosimetry.A, B. One 25 mm slice of 35 layers (A) of Alderson-Rando phantom at pelvis, with numbering of borehole positions representing pelvic organs. TLD is positioned to defined borehole with aid of vacuum forceps (B).

• 

  Fig. 2 Gender-specific estimated effective whole-body dose of different 4D perfusion protocols with scan range of 69 mm for normal weighted patients.

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